Rouse yourself, Jay, and give us your take on the following article:
>From The Guardian
GAS 'TO POWER THE GLOBE'
Paul Brown reports from the geographers' conference
Friday January 8, 1999
Global gas reserves are so great that it will be the fuel of the next
century, replacing coal and oil as the main source of power, the conference
heard.
Peter Odell, professor emeritus of international energy studies at Erasmus
university, Rotterdam, said the belief that fossil fuels would run out or
be replaced by renewable energy was wrong.
In a paper for the International Atomic Energy Agency, which saw no hope of
a nuclear power revival for 50 years, he said reserves of gas had been
underestimated.
Worldwide consumption of gas is 1 billion tonnes a year. There are already
proven reserves of 140 billion tonnes, with 200 to 300 billion tonnes still
to be discovered.
Gas supply will expand until 2090, when output will be 5.5 times current
levels. Although UK reserves will run out, said Mr Odell, elsewhere gas is
only just being exploited. Pipelines from Norway, Russia and North Africa
could supply Europe.
Within a few years gas will overtake coal as a major energy supplier, and
overhaul oil by 2020. Oil would be left in the ground like coal is now.
He rejected the argument that fears of global warming would make much
difference to his estimates. Although renewable energies would become more
important, the big users - the USA, China, Russia, India and Brazil - were
expected to increase demand for fossil fuels.
"Small countries like Denmark and the UK have made substantial cuts to try
and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. But in one day China creates as much
carbon dioxide as dear little Denmark saves in a year," he said.[end]
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